Psychotic symptoms, difficulty expressing emotions and making social connections, a tendency to be isolated, and other issues get in the way of meeting friends and establishing relationships. Finding love while living with schizophrenia, however, is far from impossible.
It might be difficult for you to show your emotions, too. As a result, many people with schizophrenia find it hard to start relationships and keep them. Others avoid it all together. But some are able to have healthy relationships.
The desire for love, meaningful personal relationships, romance, and family is well documented in persons with schizophrenia (Davidson and Stayner, 1997; Redmond et al., 2010; Davidson, 2011), as well as present in the clinical experience.
Isolation can also be an issue. Baker says schizophrenia may make you “speak less and desire less social contact.” This can add to the struggle to form connections. The first step to breaking down the barriers, Baker says: “It's important not to blame the person for their illness.”
According to Skopec et al16 most patients with schizophrenia do not differ from controls in terms of actual sexual behavior. On the other hand, relationships of people with serious mental illness are characterized by less intimacy and commitment than in the general population.
The person who has schizophrenia must accept treatment. Left untreated, the condition can cause people to behave erratically, leaving their partners to become subject to verbal abuse, emotional neglect, and delusional accusations. No healthy relationship can sustain these behaviors. Both partners must communicate.
Living with schizophrenia, it is possible to meet people, to socialize and make friends, and to have a loving intimate relationship. The best way to find a path to a healthy relationship is to treat your illness.
The main psychological triggers of schizophrenia are stressful life events, such as: bereavement. losing your job or home. divorce.
People with schizophrenia generally live about 15 to 20 years less than those without the condition. Schizophrenia is a complex disease. There are many ways it can result in serious complications.
A key to dealing with your schizophrenic spouse is to accept the disorder and educate yourself on it. You cannot argue with it. You cannot reason with it. There is no value in expressing anger or irritation when your spouse is dealing with their symptoms.
Hypersexual and paraphilic disorders have been frequently associated with concomitant psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. A growing number of published cases has recently indicated that hypersexual behavior may also arise in conjunction with treatment with second-generation antipsychotics.
A cohort study from India involving 76 patients with first episode schizophrenia, followed up for 10 years reported that 70% of patients eventually got married.
With medication, most schizophrenics are able to have some control over the disorder. It is estimated that approximately 28% of schizophrenics live independently, 20% live in group homes, and about 25% live with family members.
According to recent research findings, almost 30% of patients with schizophrenia have obsessive compulsive symptoms (OCS).
Someone experiencing a paranoid delusion may believe they're being harassed or persecuted. They may believe they're being chased, followed, watched, plotted against or poisoned, often by a family member or friend. Some people who experience delusions find different meanings in everyday events or occurrences.
Suspiciousness and a general fear of others' intentions. Persistent, unusual thoughts or beliefs. Difficulty thinking clearly. Withdrawing from family or friends.
Responses suggest that about 37 percent of schizophrenia patients were happy most or all of the time, compared with about 83 percent for those in the comparison group. Approximately 15 percent of schizophrenia patients reported being never or rarely happy.
People living with schizophrenia may have a distorted view of the things around them. The things they see or smell may not represent real life, and this can make normal objects scary or unusual. People with schizophrenia may also be more sensitive to light, color, and other distractions.
Difficulty with everyday functioning: If your loved one has schizophrenia, you may notice that the person stops taking care of their hygiene, speaks in a monotone voice, does not display emotions, or refuses to participate in daily activities.
Delusions: A person with schizophrenia will often have false beliefs about something. The person may think that neighbors are spying on them or someone is out to get them. The individual will spend a large amount of time worrying about what others are thinking and doing to them.
Studies have shown that around 8% of people with schizophrenia will exhibit unusual overt sexual behaviour such as inappropriate sexual advances, disrobing or masturbating in public15.
No matter how much you love your partner (or vice-versa), schizophrenia can strain even the strongest bonds and closest relationships. It is a serious condition, and your partner may need your support in getting the right help. Learn how seeking long-term treatment at a residential facility can help you both.